Palo Alto Weekly

News - March 22, 2013

City View

A round-up of Palo Alto government action this week

City Council (March 18)

Downtown: The council approved a series of measures to create more parking downtown, including an attendant-parking program at one garage, more permits sold at two garages and reduction of parking spaces allocated to employees at City Hall. Yes: Unanimous

Garage: The council directed staff to explore construction of a new garage on High Street, between University and Hamilton avenues, in conjunction with developer Charles "Chop" Keenan. Yes: Berman, Burt, Holman, Klein, Kniss, Price, Scharff, Shepherd No: Schmid

Infrastructure: The council voted to remove Byxbee Park from its list of projects to be considered in polling for a possible 2014 infrastructure bond measure. Yes: Berman, Burt, Holman, Klein, Kniss, Price, Scharff, Shepherd No: Schmid

History museum: The council voted to add funding for the Palo Alto History Museum to a list of projects that would be included in polling for a possible 2014 infrastructure bond measure. Yes: Berman, Burt, Price, Scharff, Schmid, Shepherd No: Klein Recuse: Holman Absent: Kniss

Board of Education (March 19)

Construction: The board approved "conceptual designs" for a new indoor athletic center at Palo Alto High School to be financed by a private donor. Yes: Unanimous

Guidance counseling: The board heard presentation from the principals of Gunn and Palo Alto high schools about efforts to improve their guidance-counseling programs. Action: None

Council Policy and Services Committee (March 19)

Smoking: The committee voted to recommend banning smoking at all city parks smaller than 5 acres. Yes: Unanimous

Council Finance Committee (March 19)

Sweeping: The commission supported a staff recommendation for a pilot program to reduce the frequency of street sweeping for residential streets in non-leaf season to once every other week and to contract out some of the work. Yes: Burt, Schmid, Shepherd Absent: Berman

Water rates: The commission voted to support a staff recommendation to raise water rates by 7 percent starting July 1. Yes: Burt, Schmid, Shepherd Absent: Berman

Architectural Review Board (March 20)

611 Cowper St.: The board held a preliminary review for a proposed 50-foot-tall, four-story office building with one residential unit at 611 Cowper St. Action: None